Banyu Pinaruh An Auspicious Day to Carry out Purification

Sunday, November 20, 2011, thousands of Hindus flocked to the beach. The Hindus called the day Banyu Pinaruh. Etymologically, the phrase Banyu Pinaruh consists of two words, namely banyu and pinaruh. Banyu means water and pinaruh is derived from the word bina wruh or pengawruh having the meaning that science has a vital position in human life. Science constitutes a guidance enlightening and serving as a weapon used by humans for their survival.

Some sources explain that Banyu Pinaruh procession is celebrated by Hindus as a means to purify their body either physically and spiritually. That is why the Hindus will visit the springs to purify their physical body and mental. For those who live near the beach will go to sea to cleanse themselves. Hindus in Denpasar, for instance, will usually do this procession on Sanur Beach, Padanggalak or Kuta. For Hindus in Gianyar, they will visit the Lebih Beach. Then, for people living in Klungkung will visit the Watu Klotok Beach. Meanwhile, people residing in Karangasem will throng the Jasri Beach.

Of course, they do not just take a shower. On that occasion, they will not only bring toiletries, but also bring along with a means of saying prayers like the offerings and incense stick.

On the beach, prior to undressing for taking a bath, they will say prayers in advance by presenting oblation and lighting their incense stick. If people bathe on the beach, they will ask permission first to Lord Varuna as the ruler of the ocean in order he can grant salvation and blessing as long as bathing on the beach. Hindus believe that by purifying the body on the Banyu Pinaruh day, they will be cleaned up from inherent dirty things both in the soul and the body.

According to Chairman of Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali Province, Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, the meaning of Banyu Pinaruh was to cleanse the corporeal body physically. Meanwhile, spiritually the people worshipped the Supreme God in its manifestation as the Lord Vishnu to invoke self-purification. Besides, the Hindus also invoked the Banyu Pinaruh holy water as a symbol to have perceived the science.

According to Sudiana, who is also a lecturer of the State Hindu Dharma Institute (IHDN) of Denpasar, the activity was performed after staying up all-night related to the celebration of the sacred Sarasvati falling every 210 days.

Banyu Pinaruh and Saraswati posed two inseparable festivities. Banyu is holy water and serves as an inner science. In other words, Banyu Pinaruh briefly means the water causing people to know about something. By carrying out spiritual purification for all night through meditation, it is expected to help the growth and development of human wisdom.

On that account, the series of Sarasvati and Banyu Pinaruh can be interpreted and implemented by performing tapas-brata-yoga-meditation properly and correctly. By doing so, it will be able to purify and harmonize the thoughts, words and deeds.

Like taking a bath with water, the face should also be washed by water. to get physical cleanliness, humans had to bathe and wash their soul by science. That’s the moral message of the Banyu Pinaruh celebration. *** Wayan Supartha